Diners' Choice: Italian restaurants in Sarasota / Bradenton

OpenTable

Updated February 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Italian cuisine in Sarasota / Bradenton? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Bruschetta Fine Italian Cuisine

5.0

5 (64)

$31 to $50

Italian

Gulf Gate Estates

About the restaurant

At Bruschetta Fine Italian Cuisine , our history is rooted in family and tradition. Our recipes have been passed down for generations, and we take great pride in using authentic ingredients and techniques to create the flavors of Italy. From our humble beginnings in a small kitchen in Rome to our bustling restaurant today, we've always stayed true to our roots.

Top review

Kayla

Dined 3 days ago

Best Italian I have ever had. It feels homey while also being classy. The food quality is amazing! The staff was amazing. We had Prosecco, grilled octopus, and the specials dinner. Everything was truly delectable and the specials were spectacular. We will be returning and this is now our favorite Italian!

La Dolce Vita Authentic Italian Cuisine

4.9

4.9 (368)

$31 to $50

Italian

Sarasota

About the restaurant

For Valentine’s Day, we are offering a special prix-fixe menu at $95 per person. You can see the menu in the appropriate section.

We welcome our guests to an authentic Italian restaurant: here we offer traditional cuisine, with a modern take on northern and southern Italian recipes. Mauro, the chef, and his wife Tina, have an huge amount of experience behind them.
Mauro is from Naples, Tina was born in a little sicilian town near by Enna.
He began to learn everything about the southern cuisine by his experience in Naples since he was a child, from “Polipetti alla Luciana” to “Paccheri ai frutti di mare”. Furthermore he moved in Milan and he had the chance to learn the northern cuisine, from “Risotto ai funghi porcini” to “Polenta grigliata”, one of his favourite specialties!
From an ancient sicilian tradition, Tina learnt everything about the desserts by her grandmother and her mother, from “Millefoglie” to “Cannoli cake”.
We hope you enjoyed reading about us.

Top review

Greg

Dined 5 days ago

They were not very busy through our dining experience between 5pm and 6pm. The service was a bit slow but the food was very good. We all finished our dish and also enjoyed the wine and beer. They finished off the night by giving us a shot of a limoncello concoction which was excellent, we wanted a gallon to go. Overall, it was a very good experience.

Dolce Italia

4.9

4.9 (634)

$31 to $50

Italian

Sarasota

About the restaurant

Dolce Italia was established in 2010 by Tiziana Di Costanzo who came from Ischia, an island in the Gulf of Naples. Using a combination of classic Italian dishes, family recipes passed down for generations, and warm hospitality, Dolce Italia has built a reputation in Sarasota as a destination for anyone seeking great food and ambiance. In 2015 Matthew joined as manager of the front of house and is now a managing partner of Dolce Italia. The kitchen staff trained by Tiziana from the beginning are still with the restaurant with Maria being the capocuoco.
Some of the specialities Dolce Italia has become famous for are the Napoletan Eggplant- a tender sautee eggplant with fresh tomatoes crowned with ricotte, the Trenne Dolce Italia- the signature pasta dish with creamy tomato sauce, fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, and mushroom.

Top review

RobertVIP

Dined 6 days ago

Always a wonderful dining in Matthew’s fine establishment. Makes you feel like family, which is an awesome quality to have. Oh, and the food is outstanding as well 😀

Pietro's Italian Restaurant

4.9

4.9 (679)

$31 to $50

Italian

Sarasota

About the restaurant

Italian Restaurant& wine bar in Sarasota. Where you are a stranger only once.
His philosophy served him well with his previous Sarasota businesses. Café Gabbiano located on Siesta Key was originated by the Migliaccio family in 2003 where is four sons grew in and out of the restaurant business.
A second venture in downtown Sarasota was opened and designed by Pietro in 2012 named Casantica, a small old house converted to a quaint homey restaurant. Both restaurants are now under new ownership.
Now, this small intimate place is where I can have fun serving and meeting new friends. Benvenuti.

Top review

LawrenceVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Valentines Day-great table, decorated with rose petals, beautiful background music. The wait staff very friendly as was the hostess. Really nice family run restaurant, the chef owner puts a lot of love into every dish. Zero complaints with this establishment, which is rare today..highly recommend!

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Popular dish

Lasagna Marinara

La Violetta Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (1098)

$30 and under

Italian

Sarasota

About the restaurant

Intimate and designed to provide a rustic Italian experience. Buonissimo!

Top review

Karen

Dined 3 days ago

My husband and I had an excellent experience, the food was outstanding, the service excellent and knowledgeable and the ambiance lovely. We will definitely be back.

La Norma Ristorante & Pizzeria

4.8

4.8 (780)

$31 to $50

Italian

Longboat Key

About the restaurant

Welcome to La Norma, a charming family-owned Italian restaurant that brings the heart of Italy to your table. Join us for homemade dishes, fine wine and live music on our patio. At La Norma we pride ourselves on using only the freshest ingredients to create authentic Italian cuisine. Our homemade dishes and handcrafted pizzas are made with care and our fine wine list is carefully curated to perfectly complement our genuine flavors. Whether you're in the mood for a romantic dinner or a festive gathering with friends and family, our warm and welcoming atmosphere is the perfect backdrop for a memorable dining experience. Come discover why La Norma is the go-to choice for Italian Cuisine on the island.

Top review

RobertVIP

Dined 4 days ago

We had great pizza and a pasta dish at La Norma. Would highly recommend this restaurant.

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Experience

Focaccia Feast: Craft Charcuterie & Sip Prosecco!

Experience

Craft Fresh Tagliatelle & Sip Prosecco!

Experience

Homemade Gnocchi Masterclass

Cassariano Italian Eatery

4.8

4.8 (3860)

$31 to $50

Italian

Venice

About the restaurant

Contemporary Italian Cuisine in downtown Venice with a casual-elegant atmosphere. INSIDE AND OUTSIDE DINING

Top review

Edward

Dined 3 days ago

Nothing could be better! I'm a repeat customer...that says it all!!

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Popular dish

Veal Chop alla Caprese

Popular dish

Pappardelle Bolognese

Popular dish

Sea Bass Piccata

Cafe Gabbiano

4.7

4.7 (3833)

$30 and under

Italian

Siesta Key

About the restaurant

Cafe Gabbiano is a casual fine dining restaurant in Sarasota Fl (Siesta Key). We source local ingredients and have a great blend of classic and modern Italian dishes. At Cafe Gabbiano everything is made to order as we want each dish to be fresh. All of our sauces and pastas are homemade.

Cafe Gabbiano is a 4,000 sqft facility that offers intimate dining as well as larger rooms to host special occasions such as beach weddings and rehearsal dinners. We have an extensive wine list, signature crafted cocktails and a great beer list. We are open daily from 5 PM to 10 PM with Happy Hour 5 PM to 6:30 PM at the bar.

Top review

Frank

Dined 3 days ago

Dinner was fantastic our waitress Marren did a fantastic job and was very attentive. The wine service was wonderful and great choices. He started with a gnocchi special. That was wonderful. We split that with three people as an appetizer. My wife and I had the linguine Pescatore, which was fantastic. Great pasta, and loaded with seafood. Her friend had the eggplant which was wonderful. Both dishes were so filled that we took leftovers home and there was no room for dessert unfortunately. Their dessert menu is delightful and next time I will have to make room.

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Popular dish

Gnocchi

Popular dish

Tortellini alla Paolo

Popular dish

Ossobuco Ravioli

Apulia Osteria Italiana

4.8

4.8 (374)

$31 to $50

Italian

Rotonda

About the restaurant

Apulia Osteria Italiana is located in Placida, Florida just a few miles away from the beautiful Island of Boca Grande and Manasota key just 20 minutes from Port Charlotte and Venice.
The warm hospitality and the professionalism you will receive at Apulia will make you feel welcome throuout your entire visit. Chef Dario Leo along with his staff will make sure you will be delighted with superb food and great service.
You will enjoy dishes from his native region " Apulia" also called "The hill of the boot", specialties such as Orecchiette with Rapini, Fritto misto di Paranza ( seafood) , Burrata, Baked Snapper, Beef Braciole, Pasticciotto Leccese and so many other dishes from all over Italy such as Ossobuco, Risotti, Gnocchi, Branzino, Ravioli, Tiramisu, Gelati and so much more......

Top review

Luigi

Dined 2 days ago

Calamari was amazing. The Black Grouper special was delicious. We plan to return again. Would certainly recommend this restaurant.

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Popular dish

Tagliatelle alla Bolognese

Mediterraneo Ristorante Italiano

4.8

4.8 (3627)

$31 to $50

Italian

Sarasota

About the restaurant

With its modern but classic Italian cuisine and emphasis on artisanal and contemporary Northern Italian style, Mediterraneo is often credited with being the first restaurant to bring authentic contemporary Italian cuisine to Sarasota when it first opened in 1996. Still under the same ownership, Mediterraneo has consistently been rated one of the top restaurants in Zagat. The restaurant has received numerous accolades including the acclaimed Insegna Del Ristorante Italiano awarded by The Minister of Agriculture & Commerce in Rome. With its highest honor, inducting the restaurant into its Accademia Italiana della Cucina "Fine Dining Hall of Fame." Mediterraneo has been rated as Best of the Best in Sarasota Magazine since the first year of opening.

So whether you're celebrating a special occasion or grabbing a quick bite to eat, at Mediterraneo you are always assured the best quality food accompanied by excellent service. All of it thoroughly Italian.

Top review

DavidVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Very crowded and noisy, must have been because Valentine weekend. Service was fine. Food selection was excellent and tasted delicious. It’s always been a favorite Italian restaurant on Main Street.

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